Methods for Organic Electrosynthesis - Fundamentals and Applications of Organic Electrochemistry - page 59

oxidized C while substrate B is transformed to
reduced product D . The former electron
transfer through the complex is called
inner-sphere electron transfer or bonded
electron transfer, while the latter one without
any complex is called outer-sphere electron
transfer or non-bonded electron transfer. Thus,
both oxidation and reduction occur at the same
place in the case of an ordinary chemical
reaction, while oxidation and reduction occur at
different places, such as an anode and cathode,
respectively, in the case of an electrochemical
reaction ( Figure 4.1b ). In other words, electrode
electron transfer takes place separately due to
the existence of the electrode interfaces, which
is a significant characteristic feature that is
different from ordinary chemical reactions.
Figure 4.1 Difference between chemical
reaction (a) and electrochemical reaction (b)